Hokie ClubA home away from home.
This is how 2023 Sports Hall of Fame inductee Jazmine Bell (formerly Reeves) describes Tech's women's soccer program.
Team culture played a pivotal role in her decision to become a Hokie in 2010. The close bonds and buy-in from the community were made apparent on her official recruiting visit, and the team's connectivity only grew stronger in the coming years.
"The culture of the team throughout my time there is seriously something that I don't think I've ever been able to find in any other place" Bell said. "For us to support each other in every way, especially with bonding off the field, really translated to the field."
Julia Goldsworthy, Bell's former teammate and lifelong friend, echoed a similar sentiment.
"The minute you come on to campus, you are just filled with school spirit," Goldsworthy said. "I am an alum of 10 years, and we still have an active group chat where we coordinate ways to meet up from around the country."
Bell's time at Tech was laden with accolades and historic firsts. As a first-team All-American and Hermann Trophy semifinalist, she set a new program record with 91 appearances and recorded the second-most points in the school's history. Her senior year, she scored 11 goals and helped the team reach the semifinals of the NCAA College Cup.
It was the first time in history that Tech had achieved such a placement, a culmination of the team's perseverance and trust in one another.
The summer before this historic season, Bell remembers head coach Charles "Chugger" Adair hiring a team of people to provide a boot camp style of training. The goal was to unite the team through intense physical and mental effort, setting the tone for the season.
"We were putting each other's minds and souls on the line to achieve difficult objectives together," Bell said. "On that day, I never wanted to do any sort of physical activity ever again. But when I think back on it, we all came together for the greater good and were made stronger."
The coaching staff played a major role in both the team's success and Bell's long-term personal growth. Coach Chugger not only pushed Bell to play at a higher, more competitive level, but he led with empathy and highlighted the human side of the sport. Coach Chugger, who was sometimes jokingly referred to as the "team dad", supported Bell as a mentor both on and off the field.
Still, none of the players expected 2013 to pan out the way it did. Coming off the heels of a major injury her junior year, Bell wanted to make the most of one more year and have fun with her teammates. She was the Cinderella player on a Cinderella team, with most soccer fans focused on the Virginia Cavaliers' historic unbeaten streak.
It was why the ACC Championship semifinal results stunned everyone. Bell scored two first-half goals, driving the Hokies to a 4-2 victory against the Cavaliers. Suddenly, the whole world wanted to know more about her.
"I don't think we had ever beat Virginia in the four years that I had been there," Bell said. "Then we were on this crazy ride into the NCAA tournament. We beat Duke, and we moved on to the Final Four. It was some of the best memories I've had in my entire life."
Following this memorable season, Bell became the first Virginia Tech player to be drafted by a professional women's soccer team, joining the Boston Breakers. Her time as a professional soccer player lasted a year, but the friendships and lessons she learned from her time at Tech still play a huge role in her life today.
"I think some of the most tangible takeaways I've had in those four years have been in leadership," Bell said. "I am currently a leader in my professional career, and I lean on the ways that our coaches led us while we were here and how I had to lead my team on the field. So, I really place a high emphasis on connectivity and building relationships."
Bell enjoys her current job as a recruiting manager for Amazon and sees herself continuing this line of work long-term. She married her high school sweetheart and is the mom of two girls (4, 6).
Although much has changed since Bell stepped off the field, her friendships have remained constant. Bell lives near her former teammates in Maryland, which allows her to frequently stay in touch and plan girl trips with them.
"What's so cool to me is that even though we are in a different phase of our lives, with a lot of us being married and having kids, we are still able to connect so well," Bell said. "Virginia Tech gave us these truly lifelong friendships, and I'm forever grateful for that team."
Writing HERstory Campaign
Tech Athletics launched a multi-platform brand campaign celebrating the incredible achievements of its female student-athletes, both past and present, while inspiring the next generation of women who aspire to achieve their dreams through athletics. In partnership with Truist, Tech will share stories of its past and current female student-athletes over the course of the calendar year. Ranging from podcast interviews to feature stories and more, the incredible moments and achievements by women over the years in Virginia Tech Athletics will be celebrated. To make a direct impact on the program or to sign up for the monthly Writing HERstory newsletter.
Gallery: (9-28-2023) WSOC: Jazmine Bell